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This relationship would be illegal in many states...

posted 11 years ago by mstrainjr
10 replies | jump to latest

The girl playing Juliet was 16 at the time of filming, and the man playing Romeo was 21. In many states in the U.S., by law (which doesn't always follow reason), Romeo would be considered a child perv. He'd go to prison and then have to register on the sex offender registry. He'd be something of an outcast the rest of his life, having much trouble finding work or even a place to stay. Like a large number of sex offenders, he'd probably be homeless, given his personality.

Just pointing something out....

[–] rey-qiu 11 years ago

the romeo character is probably 16-18. just because the actor is 21 doesnt mean the character is 21.

[–] scottdm71 11 years ago

In the real play, Juliet is about to turn 14 and Romeo is 15. Paris is 19.

[–] billyparker 11 years ago

They should have explored this angle, statutory rape--it would have made this streak of piss a lot better.

[–] billyparker 11 years ago

Fellowes could have written: Verily, I do not jokey/Since I hath porked the girl, I needs must retire to th'pokey.

[–] SuperSilvia 11 years ago

You are forgetting that back in that time it was normal for at girl at the age of 14 or younger to be married to a man that was a lot older than her. For example, in egypt in the 1600 it was normal for a girl at 12 to marry a man who was 36...
Time has changed, and people now know that even if the girl is fertile, it dos not mean that she is ready to be wed.

This is a fictional lovestory between a 14-year old girl and a 16-year old boy, it is beautifully written by Shakespeare and it is made for entertainment.

[–] SuperSilvia 11 years ago

Another thing. You are also forgetting that Hailee was 14 when she was cast, assuming they started filming 2011/2012, it means she was 14/15, Douglas (Romeo) was 19 when filming, both were om their teens. What I understand is, a lot of couples have the same agedifference, so... when is it romantic and when is it a "perve"-feeling?

[–] billyparker 11 years ago

And you're wrong about "in those days it was normal for kids to get married"--in Elizabethan England, people got married in their 20s, on average. And they died in the 70s, usually, if they made it through the perils of infancy. Early modern Egypt has about as much to do with medieval Italy as Julian Fellowes does with Shakespeare.

[–] soliloque 10 years ago

Lord Capulet want to give the hand of his daugter to Count Paris. The actor who play Paris have 23 years more than the actress of Juliette... If you think like that, I think the father is a real pervert to want that...

And just for your information, sex offenders aren't homeless... if you see the statistic a lot of them are head of a family (because all people know that the most sex offenders abuse their own child or family member) and a lot of them are wealthy...

And you have to see the difference between a role and the reality... They kiss but they don't have sex for real... and Romeo in the storyline have 16 and juliet 14... I don't see why there's a problem here...

[–] mstrainjr 10 years ago

That is some really interesting information about sex offenders, except I have to disagree with you. I can do that be I'm a sex offender.

First of all, all you have to do is look at the locations of sex offenders in the area. They are flooding the homeless shelters in Raleigh (where I live), and for those who do live in homes, it's often with the help of relatives. If it weren't for my dad letting me stay with him, I too would be homeless.

Secondly, sex offenders are social outcasts. No one wants to hire them because they're considered a liability to the company; also, too many people have false ideas about the world and so they let those false ideas filter how they view sex offenders. When a sex offender gets out of prison, usually he or she has nothing, and it's extremely hard to climb up from the bottom when it seems like everything is against you.

The sex offender registry is a sham, as it's been proven to not only have any effect on crime rate, but it ruins the lives of those who are on it. When well over 90% of sex crimes are committed by first time offenders who aren't even on the registry, one has to wonder if it serves any other purpose than "peace of mind" for citizens.

I also like how you act as if you speak for everyone when you say "all people know that the most sex offenders abuse their own child or family member".

Are you done feeling like a know-it-all now?

Read my new short story, Cat's Milk.
http://mstrainjr.com

[–] soliloque 10 years ago

Sorry if my words go wrong in my last publication. I'm not a know-it-all, i just give the reference of the statistic in my country. I was thinking it was the same in the USA, but in canada we don't have a registry for the moment.. I think we believe people have the right to reinsert the society without a mark above their head.. we believe in second chance.

Next time, I'll check the difference in the law between my country and the other before talking, it'll be better, 'cause I insult you and it was not my intention.

Sorry for all the other i insult with my publication earlier... my english is not so perfect and sometimes my thinking and my writing don't coordinate very well.